Boris Johnson was seen with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky at a surprise meeting in Kyiv.
The British prime minister was portrayed at a table against Zelensky on Saturday, with Union Jack and the Ukrainian flag in the background.
It is believed that this is the first time the couple met in person since Russia invaded Ukraine a month and a half ago, starting a war that reportedly killed hundreds of civilians and displaced millions more.
A Downing Street spokesman confirmed that the two met in Kyiv on Saturday after a photo of the leaders together was met with surprise on social media.
“The prime minister traveled to Ukraine to meet in person with President Zelensky, in solidarity with the Ukrainian people,” the spokesman said.
“They will discuss the UK’s long-term support for Ukraine and the prime minister will present a new package of financial and military assistance.
Andriy Sibiha, an aide to the Ukrainian president, said Johnson began his visit to Kyiv with a tete-a-tete meeting with Mr Zelensky.
The Ukrainian embassy in the United Kingdom shared an image from the meeting of the two leaders on Saturday, with the inscription “surprise” and emojis with a winking face.
Sergei Leshchenko, an adviser to Zelensky’s chief of staff, told The Independent that Mr Johnson’s visit to Kyiv was an “important show of solidarity” that not only sent a signal to world leaders to stand with Ukraine, but also to the Ukrainians to restart the business and cautiously try a “new normality with restrictions.”
“We need to restart our economy because the front line cannot survive if the economy does not work. That is why it is also an important signal for Ukrainians that Boris Johnson is in Kyiv today, “he told The Independent.
He said he hoped the UK would provide more weapons to Ukrainians during the visit, as they remain superior to Russia.
He said the president still hoped that Europe would eventually “close the skies” and that advertising would impose a no-fly zone.
“We are very successful on the ground, but Putin is bombing our cities, destroying our infrastructure and killing our people, so we need anti-aircraft weapons and why we need more financial support,” he added.
He also said he hoped the UK would invest in rebuilding Ukraine’s leveled cities to allow the country to continue.
Oleg Nikolenko, a spokesman for Ukraine’s foreign ministry, described Mr Johnson as one of the “principal opponents of the Russian invasion” and added that the visit served as a sign of “iron solidarity and unwavering support” from the United Kingdom.
He said the two leaders had agreed to increase sanctions until Putin stopped hostilities and withdrew from Ukraine.
“We appreciate the announcement of new military and financial assistance packages for Ukraine,” he added. “Ukraine needs more weapons, financial and humanitarian aid to better defend itself.
Following talks between the two leaders, No. 10 announced it would send 120 armored vehicles and anti-ship missile systems to support Ukraine during the “decisive phase” of the war.
In a statement, Mr Johnson said it was a “privilege” to travel to Ukraine and meet with Zelensky in person.
“Ukraine defied the odds and pushed Russian forces out of Kyiv’s gates, achieving the greatest military feat of the 21st century,” he said.
The British Prime Minister added: “Today I have made it clear that the United Kingdom stands firm with them in this ongoing battle and we are in it in the long run.
“We are stepping up our own military and economic support and convening a global union to end this tragedy and ensure that Ukraine survives and thrives as a free and sovereign nation.
The announcement of more aid came a day after the United Kingdom announced additional £ 100 million in military aid from the United Kingdom to Ukrainian forces, including anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons.
Ukraine has called on Western allies to send more weapons as they prepare for an offensive in the east as Moscow withdraws forces from around Kyiv.
On Saturday, Ukrainian authorities told civilians to flee the eastern regions. The day before, a train shelter where civilians were sheltered was bombed, killing at least 52 people.
Earlier, the chairman of the Tory party said that the British prime minister “desperately wants” to visit Ukraine to witness what is happening in the besieged country.
But a senior government official told The Independent last month that such a trip would be “pointless” and that his time would be “better spent tackling Home Office dysfunction” because of the UK’s response to the refugee crisis caused by the war.
Mr Johnson is believed to have last visited Ukraine and met with Zelensky in early February, when the threat of a Russian invasion loomed.
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